MUNICH: BMW has just announced the new BMW iDrive system that promises greater ease of use.
It comes with a new home screen with clearly arranged functions that are optimised for use on the BMW Curved Display.
The system’s QuickSelect concept additionally brings an improved menu structure that takes its cues from consumer electronics devices, able to show the right information in the right place.
The new iDrive system will be gradually introduced in current models (see Note at bottom) over the course of 2023.
“Today, BMW iDrive is more than just a control and operating system – it’s a digital world of experience allowing human and car to interact with one another and exchange information,” said Stephan Durach, Senior Vice President BMW Group Connected Company Development.
“As we said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2023, we are continuously enhancing the associated user experience based on the latest available technology.”
This translates into a broader offering of digital content for information and entertainment, shorter function update cycles, better information on charging points for electric vehicles and improved access to a host of specific online services.
With its new graphical interface and optimised menu structure, BMW iDrive will in future focus even more on interaction by using the touchscreen and natural language. The BMW Curved Display will continue to serve as the point of interaction for the multi-sensory BMW iDrive experience.
The next-generation BMW iDrive turns the home screen on the BMW Curved Display into a permanently viewable user interface. Other individually configurable graphics can also be displayed here at all times as an alternative to the navigation system’s map view.
The new zero-layer principle means that all relevant functions and information are shown on a single level, making it possible to select a desired function without having to enter a submenu first.
Instead, live widgets appear in a vertical arrangement on the driver’s side of the user interface. These function icons can be selected with a swipe of the finger and also configured individually.
The QuickSelect functionality makes it possible to directly select entertainment programmes, contact lists and vehicle settings, start interaction with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant or activate other menu options, all by touch.
And once the relevant settings have been chosen, a quick tap on the home icon at the lower edge of the display is all it takes to return to the home screen.
The new, flat menu structure makes activating functions and settings much faster and simpler.
To ensure intuitive interaction whilst driving, the graphical interface and menu structure feature a layout developed by BMW Group Design.
The new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect is a further development of the BMW Operating System 8 fitted in current BMW models with BMW Curved Display, and is based on the latest-generation infotainment head units, which is also responsible for graphic processing.
The new BMW Operating System 8.5 will be gradually introduced in all midsize, executive and luxury model ranges1) from BMW. It will continue to be based on Linux and will be combined with the largest version of the BMW Curved Display.
The digital experience on the specific BMW Curved Display of the compact-class models with the new BMW Operating System 9, based on Android Open Source Project software, is being developed.
When the BMW iDrive system was first launched in 2001 with the new 7 Series, its purpose was to use one display and one interactive element for as many functions as possible in order to cut down on the number of buttons, controls and displays.
The iDrive Controller therefore acquired the status of universal control device as we knew it from a computer mouse. Scrolling and clicking on a desktop became turning, pushing and pressing in a car – intuitively and with minimal distraction from the road ahead.
After about 20 years, the digital user experience is dominated by touchpads, touch-sensitive smartphone displays and voice assistants.
Swiping, tapping and speaking are the most common methods of interaction as facilitated now by the BMW Curved Display’s touchscreen.
Note:
> BMW Operating System 8.5 compatibility by model and start of production:
BMW 7 Series; BMW iX, BMW i4, BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7, BMW XM gradually from July 2023; further models to follow, subject to change
> BMW Operating System 9 compatibility by model and start of production:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer from November 2023; BMW X1 from November 2023; further models to follow, subject to change
